Election for the representative for disabled employees

On November 30, 2018, the election for the Representative for Disabled Employees (SBV) will take place at the University of Freiburg. Candidates can be nominated for election until October 29, 2018. The confidential advisor and four deputy members will then be elected. In an interview with Alice Tátrai-Gruda, Roland Birmele, Chairman of the Election Committee, explains who can be nominated as a candidate and what SBV’s tasks entail.

Foto: Sandra Meyndt

Mr.Birmele, every four years the SBV election takes place, such as this year. Who is entitled to vote?

Roland Birmele: Every employee at the University who has the status of a disabled person, i.e. with a degree of disability of more than 50 percent, or who is equally situated as a disabled person, may vote. At the University, this applies to approximately 150 employees.

Who can be nominated for the office of confidential advisor or deputy?

All adult persons who have been employed at the University of Freiburg for more than six months are eligible. Persons who are not disabled themselves can also be nominated. Employees who are employed part-time and who have a fixed-term contract can also apply. Otherwise, there are no special requirements for the office.

How can a person be nominated?

Candidates are nominated by those entitled to vote. The “election proposal form,” a form for registering candidates, is made available on the election platform. Each nomination requires eight signatures from the employees entitled to vote. The electoral roll can be used to identify those eligible to vote and ask for their support. The electoral roll is available for inspection by the staff council in the registration office. A person may apply for both the office of confidential advisor and the office as an alternate member. The original application must be submitted to me by Monday, October 29, 2018.

The representation of disabled employees and the participation in the election are important for everyone - even for those who do not have a disability, says Roland Birmele, Chairman of the Election Committee. Photo: Harald Neumann

Which offices can people apply for and what are the differences?

There is the SBV office of the confidential advisor and four deputy members whose term lasts four years. The SBV has many tasks: For instance, as soon as a person applies who is disabled, the confidential advisor must be present at all job interviews and then write a statement. Since the tasks for the confidential advisor are varied and extensive, deputies are needed. Four deputy members are defined in the election regulations. Experience has shown that this number has proven its worth. The confidential advisor is the contact person for all questions and delegates to the deputies.

What other tasks does the SBV have?

The office promotes integration within the company, represents the interests of disabled and equally situated people, advises, informs and helps this group of people. Special aids may be required for the integration or new employment of disabled persons. The SBV applies for these aids at the Integration Office of the City of Freiburg or with the employer. For example, if problems should arise at the workplace due to sick leave, SBV will try to contact the supervisor in order to reintegrate the person into work life. Other tasks include accepting suggestions or complaints from disabled people, providing help or assisting with applications.

Why is the office important? Why should people participate in the election?

SBV is important for everyone - even for those who do not have a disability. Accessibility is good for everyone because you might find yourself in a situation where you need it some day. Many accessibility issues are often not considered because they are not a problem at all for non-disabled people. In that case, it’s good if someone is there who will quickly say: We have to think together with the disabled people about where and how it is possible to create barrier-free access. For SBV, as the representative of the interests of disabled and equally situated people within the University, it is important to be a point of contact for this group of people. For this reason, I would like to see a high turnout and urge all voters to exercise their right to vote.

Election information

The list of eligible voters is available from the Staff Council at the University of Freiburg, Friedrichstraße 41-43, 79098 Freiburg, Tel.: 0761 203-6900.

The election committee must receive nominations by October 29, 2018.

Election official: Roland Birmele, Office of Security, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg

Disabled and equal voters will receive ballots by mail for the election on November 30, 2018.

For more information, visit the election platform

The election committee is available for further information regarding the election:

Roland Birmele, Office of Security, Tel. 203-4354
Marianne Löffler, IT Services (IT administration), Tel. 203-8851
Gangolf Dachnowsky, Center for Popular Culture and Music, Tel. 7050312
Thomas Argast, University library, Tel. 203-3937
Stefanie Hättich, Staff Council, Tel. 203-6918